Page 9 of The Politician

Kendra cleared her throat. “Not really.”

“David, our party leader, is about to resign. News hasn’t broken yet.”

Kendra shook her head. She was sworn to secrecy by her contract, but this man didn’t mean anything to her anyway. Had it been the current PM, she would have leapt with joy because that wanker was doing fuck all for the environment.

“I’m going to put my name forward for leadership, Kendra.”

Words of congratulation evaded her. She scratched her head. “Does that mean I’m out of a job already?”

Sarah laughed. “On the contrary. I’m going to need all the help you can give me.”

Kendra puffed out a sigh of relief and patted her chest. Sarah stared at her, smiling, and heat blossomed somewhere deep inside her. “I’m up for it,” she said.

Sarah turned over the piece of paper and started reading. “Good. We’re taking a trip next month. North Wales: Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, and Bangor. Their conservation projects have been part-funded by the party, and they’re excellent examples of our work to strengthen biodiversity. We’ll need accommodation for Friday night, media coverage, and local council and resident engagement. We’ll take a plane to Liverpool Thursday morning and hire a car. I expect you to come with me to manage the schedule and keep control of the press, etcetera. We’ll be heading to my constituency for the weekend. You can stay at my place. I have meetings to attend on Saturday afternoon. It’ll be good for you to come to them.” She looked up. “If you can make it.” She smiled. “Do you think you can do that?”

Kendra would do anything for that smile, though her head was spinning with the details. She didn’t have a clue where she might start with arranging the media or local councils, and she hadn’t planned to work on Saturdays. It would be a change from litter picking though, and it would be interesting to see what went on in Sarah’s constituency. She’d been to a local meeting once, and it had been like the meat market on a bad day. She could always ask her dad for advice if she got really stuck since he’d been a councillor for years before retiring. One way or another, she’d work it out.

“If you have any questions, ask Jeremy first. Come to me only if you have to.” She looked up and smiled. “My diary is rammed, and admin doesn’t play to my strengths. It drives me bonkers, to be honest. Jeremy’s an old hand. He and the team will show you the ropes.”

Kendra released a deep breath. “Thanks.”

“Good.”

Kendra got the hint that their meeting was over and started towards the door.

“Any chance of a coffee?” Sarah asked.

Kendra turned towards her. She was still reading. “How do you take it?” she asked.

Sarah looked up. “Same as you.”

Kendra went to the kitchen and made coffee but when she returned to put it on Sarah’s desk, Sarah and her laptop had gone. She wondered if she’d taken too long and whether Sarah would be annoyed with her. She left the mug on the coaster on the table and focused her mind on the details for the trip. Her baptism of fire had sparked up quicker than she’d expected, and she needed to give the job her full attention or she’d fall short of Sarah’s expectations. Already, that was the last thing she wanted to do.

5.

SARAH WRESTLED WITH THEoven glove while pressing her phone to her ear with her shoulder. She opened the oven door, pulled out the tray of mini savoury starters to check them, shoved them back, and closed the door. “Another two minutes,” she said.

“Two minutes,” Jeremy said.

“I’m cooking. Keep talking.”

“Your numbers are rising steadily. Richard is reaching out to the old boys, dick that he is. He’s got the ears of some, of course, but his environmental agenda is too loose.”

Richard, the current deputy of the party, was her only contender for leadership. Rumour had it that he moved to the Independent party because he had no chance of securing a senior position with the Conservatives. That was fifteen years ago. Now a grey-haired, white male in is mid-fifties, with a wife who always wore a pearl necklace and dresses with shoulder pads, and three kids studying medicine at Oxford, he represented everything that was out of kilter in modern day politics. Loose agendas could be easily spun. Leaning too far to the right, he had the potential to do more harm than good to the party’s reputation.

“Everyone’s hungry for a change, Sarah. This is your show,” Jeremy said.

Sarah glanced through the glass window of the oven. “My starters are cooked.”

“Domestic bliss, eh. That’s press-worthy.”

“Except when they try and say it’s impossible to do home and job well.”

“Maggie Thatcher managed it.”

Sarah removed the tray and set it down on the side. “Yes, and I’m no iron lady.”

Jeremy laughed. “You’re better. Wales on Friday, and the press will feature you working in Todmorden on Saturday too. It’s going to be a busy weekend.”

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